New franchise branch owners as parent firm's takeover talks go on

Three property specialists have joined forces to launch a new branch of franchise brand Martin & Co.

Directors Andrew Rowson and Lindsey Medley, supported by business partner Anwar Ali, have acquired the Martin & Co franchise for Shrewsbury and the surrounding area, including Telford.

The new owners of the business are moving it to new premises which they describe as “high profile.”

Rowson and Medley have decades of past property industry experience, and Rowson says: “Initially we will focus on our existing customers but we are ambitious and we’re aiming to double the portfolio within five years, to more than 300 properties. We will also explore opportunities to acquire other letting agents in order to grow the business, and would like to open an office in the Telford area.

“Anwar and I have been working together as business partners at our Rev-A Associates property consultancy in Shrewsbury. At Martin & Co we have gained Lindsey as a new business partner and she will be leading the business as office manager.  We all have extensive experience in the property sector, which means we can deliver high quality property management and maintenance services.”

Martin & Co is one of several brands operated by The Property Franchise Group - the others are EweMove; CJ Hole, Ellis & Co, Parkers and Whitegates.

In early December TPFG approached a rival agency franchise network - Hunters - about a possible takeover; TPFG now has until 5pm this coming Friday, January 29, to confirm its proposal for the acquisition.

Hunters is chaired by backbench Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake and has 200 franchised branches across the UK and is worth  £22m. In market capitalisation terms, TPFG is more than double the size of Hunters, at £48m, and has some 300 branches.